“Well, being his wife didn’t exactly protect me or anything. He still sold me. Henry hoped to use me as a sort of Trojan horse.” I reached behind my head, toying with the spot where the tracker once was. “But that plan backfired.”
A moment of silence passed as I stared straight ahead, worry and fear overtaking me yet again. But I couldn’t wallow in it. If anyone would find me, it was Henry.
“What’s he like?”
“Who? Victor? An asshole.”
“No. Not Victor. Henry. My…father.”
“Oh.”
I leaned against the wall, trying to find a way to describe Henry Fontaine. I wasn’t sure there were adequate words in the English language, but I’d try. Sarah deserved to know about her father in case this was the only opportunity I had to tell her.
“Passionate. Determined. Stubborn. Smart. Fiercely loyal. If anyone tries to hurt someone he cares about, there’s nothing he won’t do to make them pay.”
I extended my legs in front of me, my heart warming as memories of Henry flashed before my eyes. From that first meeting in the art museum. To seeing him emerge from the shadows of the forest in Maine. To patching him up after he fell down the ravine. To the look of absolute fury when I showed him my scars. To our early morning walks through his property in Georgia as he tried to convince me he was a good person. To telling him I trusted him. To telling him I loved him.
“What else?” Sarah prodded.
“Hard to read at first. It takes a bit to crack through his tough outer shell, but once you do, it’s like magic.”
“You… You love him, don’t you?”
“With all my heart,” I choked out.
“Do you think he’ll find us?” Sarah asked, her own voice quivering.
I couldn’t imagine how difficult it must have been for her to remain so strong for so long in this hell. I’d only been here a matter of hours, and I was already on the verge of breaking. But Sarah had been here for over six months.
Six months of mind games.
Six months of torture.
Six months of wondering if she’d ever be free.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “But I do know he won’t give up. Won’t stop until he’s searched every corner of the world.”
“I guess it’s better than nothing,” she said with a sigh.
“Guess so.” I leaned my head back, my eyes growing heavier by the second.
“Ariana?” Sarah said, breaking through the haze.
“Yes?”
“As much as it sucks, I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Henry
My eyes burned from staring at this damn monitor.
Hours had passed since I’d returned from the horse property.
Since I’d learned about Blake’s past.
